Post #488

After 16 years, Madagascar has lifted its moratorium on new mining permits, except for gold. The Madagascar Council of Ministers announcedcompanies may once again get new mining permits. The respective ban was initially imposed in 2010 to address governance weaknesses and modernize the country’s legal framework. The urgency to reopen the mining sector increased following widespread unrest in late 2025. Mass youth-led protests over chronic water and power shortages, corruption, and poverty led to the removal of both the Prime Minister and the President. 📈 The new government, led by interim President Colonel Michaël Randrianirina is apparently seeking to leverage prospective revenues from mineral wealth to show tangible results of its short reign to the citizens. Despite hosting valuable mineral resources, including one of the world’s largest nickel mines, Madagascar’s extractive exports and activities have been in decline. The moratorium, which was meant to be temporary, persisted through successive administrations, creating a queue of some 1,600 license applicants as of 2023. While other mineral sectors are reopening, gold remains tightly controlled. The refers to its inability to effectively regulate the sector and establish a rigorous monitoring system. The country, nevertheless, does suffer from widespread artisanal activity, while only negligible amount of gold is declared officially. ➡️ Stay informed - @devilsbelow